Posthole digger attachment for tractors



Aug. 30, 1949. ARPS ET AL 2,480,537

POST HOLE DIGGER ATTACHMENT FOR TRACTORS Filed July 26, 1945 4 Sheets-$heet l I NV EN TORS ATTORN 7 v RUNO FAR/=5 Fqeosmcw Isa-A s 1949. RF. ARPS ET AL 2,430,537

POST HOLE DIGGER ATTACHMENT FOR TRACTQRS Filed July 26, 1945 4 Shets-$heet 2 INVENTORS BRUNO FARPs EQELJER/C/v ARPS ATTO N Aug. 30, 1949. B. F. ARPS ETAL 2,480,537

POST HOLE BIGGER ATTACHMENT FOR TRACTORS Filed July 26, 1945 4 S heetsrSheet 3 I N VEN TORS BF? UNO FA RPS FPEDE'R/C A B. A R95 ATTORNEY Au' .30,1949. q B.-F. ARPS ET AL 2,480,537

POST HOLE DIGGER ATTACHMENT FOR TRACTORS Filed July 26, 1945 4 Sheets-$heet 4 F/aJ- IN VEN TORS BRUNO FA RPS FEEDER/(K8 A RPS A TTORNEY Patented Aug. 30, 1949 'ATIQEANT OFFICE POSTHOLE BIGGER ATTACHMENT FOR TRACTORS Bruno F. Arps and Frederick B. Arps', New Holstein, Wis.

Application July 26, 1945, Serial No. 607,186

The present invention relates to an attach-- ment for tractors for digging post holes and being powered by the tractor engine and having preferably hydraulicmeans for raising and lowering the auger.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device of the character which can be operated by the tractor operator and from the seat of the tractor, having means whereby the operator can quickly and easily move the auger into exact position and control and operate the auger and tractor without assistance.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a post hole digger attachment, which can be conveniently attached and detached from the tractor.

An important object of the present invention is, to provide convenient means whereby the frame of the device may be tilted on its fastening to the tractor for side hill work, or for digging holes at a transverse angle to the tractor.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an automatic power release for the auger, thereby to disconnect its driving means when the auger meets a serious obstruction.

Power post host digging should be on a mass production basis and therefore our device was designed for this purpose, that is, the auger can be removed and located at the next position and put into operation quickly so a large number of holes can be dug per hour by a single operator and without leaving the tractor seat and without tiring the operator. Complementing these features, is a design which is simple, easily manufactured at low cost and durable.

To these and other useful ends our invention consists of parts, combinations of parts or their equivalents, and mode of operation as hereinafter described and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of our device shown attached to a fraction of a conventional tractor.

Fig. 2 is a front view of figure 1.

'Fig. 3 is a front view of the device as shown in figure '2 except showing the device tilted for side hill work or for boring a hole in the earth at an angle transverse to the tractor.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view illustrating details of the power throw-out clutch and its driving'means. r

- Figs; 5 and 6 are detailed views of fractions of the device as shown in figure 4.

the device shown in Figure 7 is a plan view of a control box mount- 3 Claims. (01. 25522) ed on the tractor within reach of the operator, and

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 88 of Figure 3.

As thus illustrated the tractor is designated by 'reference'character A, the diggerattachment unit "in its entirety is designated by reference character B. The tractor consists of the main frame Hi having rear driving wheels H-Il which are mounted on the ends of axles l2-l2, the axles protruding through axle housings l3l3. Secured to the rear end of member I ll is a power take-off which in its entirety is designated by reference character C, having a housing l5 which is turnably secured to member iii. Member l5 has a transverse housing projection l6, theshaft l'l protruding. When member l5 isturned so shaft I1 is positioned horizontally, a driving pulley is attached to the end thereof for belt work.

Member 0 is provided by the tractor manufacturer' as a standard attachment and when used for driving our post hole digger it is turned to and secured in the. position shown in Figure 1. A universal'joint I8 is provided on the end of shaft I! and has a shaft IS, the purpose of which Will hereinafterappear. I

Our device is provided with a plate 24, which is secured to the tractor and having flanges 25-25 for holding memberit into axial alignment with member C, the flanges overlaying plate 26 as shown. These members provide means whereby the digger attachment can be easily and quickly removed or replaced. A supporting frame 21 is secured to plate 26. A post 28 is secured to plate 24 having at its upper .end a collar 29 which is pivotally mounted on member 28 as at .30 (see Figure 2). is rotatably mounted in collar 29 and held from end movement by the hub of a crank 32 and another collar 33. A post 35 is secured to member 26 having rotatably secured thereto a block 3% into whichrmember 3| is screw-threaded.

.Thus it will be seen that by turning crank 32, member B may be positioned and held as shown in Figure 2 or member )3 may be moved to the position shown in figure 3 or turned to the opposite angle as shown in this figure. Shaft i5 is 1'0- tatably mounted in bearing 31 which is secured to a bracket 38 forming an extension to member 35. A frame member 39 is secured to the upper end of member 35 to the sides of which posts 40-45 are secured, the lower ends of these posts 46 beingsecured to the sides of frame member 2? as illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3; thus members A screw-threaded shaft 3|.

are held together by means of a plate 41 as shownn fl in Figure 8. We provide an auger digger comprising a shaft 58 having mountedrom-zitsslower1:; end auger members and 52, member 52 eat'iitsa upper end terminating preferably as at 53;.and... member 5! at its upper end terminating as uate-5 04;;

12 are moved upwardly by this oil pressure. This lever control valve has a by pass whereby when the lever is in another position, oil will be permitted to flow back into the hydraulic pump supply tank because of the weight of member D, the auger and their connected parts; thus the operator can raise and lower the auger digger at will; 1

Attention is now called'to the power lift shaft 130 which on conventional tractors protrudes through opposite sides of the tractor frame, each endibfitheshaft having an arm I34 which is generally'aconnected to the draw-bars of the tractor. In the..present invention one of arms MI is con :nectedQ-to a link i32, the lower end of which is On the lower ends of members 5! and 52' we removably attach cutting blades=55 -55 (see i"ge= ure 1) these blades having preferably sharpened cutting edges and being made of suitable material for .the purpose.

We-secure a collared" to shaft efl'havinga wear ing. plate as illustrated. We provide. a housing tube 5?, thedower end having a co1lar ;58" with a wearingplate as illustrated,whichiis spaceda shortdistance from the wearing plate "of"coll'ar. 5-51" Between: these wearing platesweprovide a ballthrust bearingbei" The upperendofimemi ber Elis provided witha' flange 60 (see Figured): whichjcont'acts a bearingmember 8 I of a housing 62, these: members forming a partof theidrivingq and releasing mechanism which in its entirety is designated'by reference character D1" We" provide means for raising" andloweringj member D and the auger asxfollows: *Tube 51is secured to members thus members D and are slidably mounted on thedigger frame; so? the auger may be' raisedfand" lowered." A: bracket. 65-is secured to tube '51: v

A hydraulic cylinder 'llTis securedat ltslower.

end to frame 21 having a piston II. on the'uppjer A end ;of which is rotatably'mounteda V-beltpulley 'i's 'by means of a. bracket'13." A1 tube 14' is closed, at its upper end,and'securedfto piston T1 and bracket 13; the lower end-having a stufii'ngjbox i5 which'is free to move longitudinally on;cy1ln;- der 'Hl thus tube 14' and'it's 'stuflin'g.;box l5i'wi1ll act. to protect piston H from theelements;

Wesecure an anchor le'to frame .member 721,-. seeFigure 1; A wire cable'l'fis anchoredito meme bee-H5 as "at 18; this cable. .extending'ioverpully, l2, the other end being anchoredtoimember 65. as'atfle. Thelower end ofcylinder 'lll'fiscon; nected to a hydraulic: supply tube 88 T (seeiFigure 2) which has a c0nnecti0n1at'its 'othereendjtor acontrol box (not'shown) within'easy reachiof the operator.' The controlbox is ,providedswitli a lever: operated" valve by means, ofiiiwhic'h'soil' pressure may be supplied to cylinder TllZ-ftinraise ing member-D and'itsconnecting parts. Figure. 7 illustrates a'hydraulic valve controlbox BThIaiL- ing 'a connection ,afltwhich' leads to cylinde'r, [01 and'a connection 82 which'leadsito asumP- An: other connection 83leads from thepressuresid of'a hydraulic pump. The valve in box..8i"has. a connection to a manually operatedilever 84;..tlie valve and ports being arranged? so when the lever, is moved. in .one direction the post'omin ti1b e ill will be raised. and. when lever. 84 ismoveddn'the other direction from neutral aportwillbe-opened between tubes. 89- and .82v Thussthe raising and lowering. of-member Dwill 1383111111161 control; of the. operator. It willtbe L understoodgthatlwhen lever: 844s inva neutral position :pistorr ll will thee lockedu'rr its position; Wh'empiston. 12f andzpulley.

round and extends through a bracket I33. A spring lM-cisaheldpn the rounded end of member l32wandrbetween member I33 and a nut 135. On power lift tractors of the class when arms l3| reach maximum raised position, the oil supply to the' ram isshut olifi The object 'of spring ;I 34 is tomormally-hold levers l 3| to -a position whi'ohds before this shutoff operation takes place; the prese sure err the ramacting atall times to overcome the pull of spring 135. The spring is-designed' co-determine m'ax-imum pressure desired in the hydraulic system so'that' it will act '-to prevent excessive pressure in -the-system; thus the hydraulic pressure iseavailable at all time: for operating tiiedigger but prevented from raising abovena-predetermined pressure It will also be understooel' that-thevalve-is adapted to--control' the speed of movement of piston TH Furthermore if desired a restricted opening-onth'e dischargeside of the valve-=may= be provided whereby when the valve ismoved for loweringshaft- 59'; the speed of movement 'is determihed; thus preventing overloading thadevice-r- Generally:however'thespeed of movement of the auger may 'bedetermined by'the operator in his manipulation of the;valve lever.

Weprovide drivingmeansfop the auger' as follows It is anticipatedlthat' member- D'; housing 51;- shaft fill 'and theiauger will-supply weight enough 45 to force-eutten -blades 552mm the earth;- the= speed" at which these cutten blades ententhe earth-beinghawall times under I control 'of -the operator asherein'before described.

The-power. connection frorn sh'aft le 'to shaft 5 blhisiaszfollows A pinionell is' rotatably mountedinlhousingrfil as -illustrated in=. Figure-4: A gear arismmde fast to a -hubmember 88 -and 'having amannulan-extensionsfi.- Member 88-is-rotatably mountedonzshaft m' by means of'bearing member 55 90 and shaft 50 is' -rotatably mounted in bearing- 93-1 Member- 89 2has:on its=inner surfacepreferably sixridepressionsidze Pinion 85 and 'gearB l 'ar-e operativelyz connected by means ofan intermediateegearx 94; which is rotatably-mountedon stud I0! which is anchored-to housing e2 ats-illustrated; Itswllkbes seen that-the axes of pinion s and gear Bleanevfixedvon housing 62 'by bear-ingw 86 and 93. shares-1 9 can -not :easily be held-on a fixed axis, 65 I therefore provide means for driving pinion -ai by. thislshaft i QJSIfOllOWS-Z- Shaft-- 9 is preferably square:lnkcrosssection and a drivingmembeefli iseprovidedi with: a: square-= opening, whioh' fits snugly over the shaft' 'but being: loose 'enough -to slide freelyzin response tathemovement of housing 62?. Memben'efr is operatively connected te member by means of a suitable flexible' -jointf ea and a hubz 91 thusshatt l9 mayact' -as a driver which need not-be held c0ncentric-with 75 pinionnaiii It'flwilllib'e noted that; member 95 15 provided with a hub 98 which extends through an enlarged opening 99 in housing 02 thus member I9 is free to gyrate to a limited extent. A cap I having downwardly extending flanges is carried by hub 98 as shown, which answers to prevent rain and foreign matters from finding its Way into the housing.

We provide a releasable connection from member 89 and shaft '50 as follows: A cap I is secured to member 89. We provide a shaft I00 which is slidably mounted in a cap I01 which is secured to member I05 and having downwardly extending flanges to prevent rain and foreign matter getting into housing 02. On the lower end of shaft I00 two pairs of links 100408 are pivoted as at I09, the outer ends of these links being pivoted to links IIOIIO as at III-III. The upper ends of links H0 are pulled toward each other by means of a pair of springs I I2 (one not shown). A pair of blocks II3I I3 are provided with projections or rollers IIl-I I4 which are engaged by the lower ends of members III] as illustrated.

A pair of rollers H5 are fitted into grooves III; in blocks H3, these rollers being forced into grooves 92 by means of springs IIZ when links I03 are in the position shown in Figure 4. Cap I05 is slotted as at I20 for the sliding reception of the lower ends of members I50. This position is dependent upon pin I09 being slightly below the plane of pivots I I I and being held in this position by projections H8 which are secured to members H0.

It will be seen that if shaft I00 is raised so pivot I09 is above the plane of pivots III, rollers H5 will be permitted to move inwardly out of pockets 92, thus to disengage the clutch.

Cap I05 has spaced downwardly projecting members IZZ-IZZ, the inner edges of which slidably contact the opposite sides of members H3. Cap I05 and members I22 are secured to plate 92 by means of cap screws IZI; thus it will be seen that member 50 will be turned by pinion 35 when the clutch parts are in the position shown in Figure 4, and this shaft 50 will not be turned when the clutch is in the position shown in Figure 1.

When the digging auger meets a serious obstruction members II3 will be forced together by the action of pockets 92 on rollers H5 and when they are forced together because of projections I I8, links I08 will be moved upwardly to the position shown in Figure 1. The clutch will then remain out of engagement until the free end of lever I21 is pulled down manually, thus moving shaft I06 downwardly thus reengaging the clutch. The clutch will then be held in engagement by spring II2 until it is again disengaged as already described.

In Figure 1, we illustrate the clutch as having been released either manually or by the digger meeting a serious obstruction. On the upper end of shaft I06 we preferably provide a flange collar I26. A lever I2! is provided with a forked connection (not shown) adapted to fit between the flanges of member I26, one end being anchored to member 45 by means of a link I28 as at I29. A rope or cable may be attached to the free end of lever I21 and extend to within easy reach of the operator, whereby if the clutch has been disengaged a pull on the rope will reengage the clutc4h or move it to the position shown in Figure It will be understood that the releasable means associated with the operating connection between the driver and digger shaft may either definitely be disconnected as shown and described, requiring the operator to reconnect it or an overload slipping clutch may be provided which is too well known to require illustration or description.

Having thus shown and described our invention, we claim:

1. A tractor having a main frame and a power take-off shaft in combination with a post hole digger comprising an elongated generally vertically arranged digger frame securely connected at its lower end to the tractor, a driver shaft rotatably mounted at its top to the top of said digger frame and having an operating connection at its bottom to said power take-off shaft, a digger transmission longitudinally slidably mounted in said digger frame, said transmission having a longitudinally movable operating connection to said driver shaft for continuously rotating the driver shaft, a tube forming a part of said digger transmission and extending downwardly therefrom, a digger shaft rotatably mounted in said tube and having an operating connection at its upper end to said transmission with its lower end protruding from the lower end of said tube, the tube forming a guide bearing for said digger shaft, an auger digger mounted on the protruding end of said digger shaft, separate manually controlled means adapted to move said digger transmission vertically in either direction, whereby the auger may be caused to move vertically, either independently of or simultaneously with its turning movement.

2. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein the connection between the digger frame and tractor is manually adjustable for angling the frame transversely and substantially on the axis of said. tractor power take-off shaft.

3. A device as recited in claim 1 wherein, said digger frame comprising pairs of angle bars positioned on opposite sides thereof, their inner flanges being spaced apart and turned inwardly, their other flanges being secured together by means of plates forming inwardly turned channels for substantially the length of the angle bars, said slidable mounting comprising elongated fiat plates having their outer edges slidably mounted in said channels, pairs of vertically spaced transversely arranged bars secured at their centers to opposite sides of said tube with the ends of said bars secured to said flat plates, whereby said digger transmission is firmly and slidably held in operating position for its full vertical movement.

BRUNO F. ARPS. FREDERICK B. ARPS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,319,259 Adams Oct. 21, 1919 1,507,776 Humiston Sept. 6, 1924 1,583,855 Reynolds May 11, 1926 2,320,775 Garner June 1, 1943 2,321,680 Houston June 15, 1943 

